Feb (1 of 2): Small Group Discussion Guide
Paul: A Life Transformed by Grace
Sermon Series Overview
Grace is more than a concept—it is a force that upends our expectations, reshapes our identities, and redefines our relationship with God. In this sermon series, we journey with Paul to uncover the six dimensions of grace that challenge our human instincts for merit and control. From its incongruity—given to the undeserving—to its transformative power, grace is God’s relentless pursuit of us, not our achievement. We’ll wrestle with the ways we resist grace, settle for counterfeits, and struggle to receive love in vulnerability. Through Paul’s letters, we’ll see that faith is not a prerequisite for God’s favor, but a response to His unwavering faithfulness to us. Ultimately, this series will call us to glorify God with our whole lives—not through self-sufficiency, but through the radical dependence that grace alone makes possible.
Announcements
We are asking all who participate in Restore’s community to give if they are able! Thanks to your generosity, we have begun to close our budget gap! However, we still currently have a monthly budget deficit of $1,600. You can give safely and securely HERE!
God has been incredibly kind to Restore. In fact, keeping up with our growth has been a challenge. But it is a good problem to have! Everything that happens on Sunday mornings happens because of the dedication of our servants in creating a space that is welcoming to all! During February and March, we are starting our “Find Your Place” initiative where we invite you to join one of our vital Sunday teams - Restore Kids or Production. You can sign up to serve your church HERE!
Resources
Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality by David Brenner. We all find ourselves resistant to grace. The hardest part is our surrender. This short but powerful book explores the life-changing journey of surrendering to God’s unconditional embrace of us.
Paul and the Power of Grace by John Barclay. This short book is an accessible read for someone interested in exploring the six dimensions of grace.
Sermon Video
Sermon Text
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 4:5
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Galatians 2:21
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Sermon Quotes
"While one might expect humans to receive the news that God is unequivocally for us as good news, in reality we do not. We have such an inborn tendency to run our own life and to pay our own way that unconditional love is both unbelievable and terrifying. In short, we want nothing of it. Grace is totally alien to human psychology. We want to get our house in order and then let God love and accept us. The psychology of works-righteousness and self-certification is foundational to the human psyche and totally at odds with grace." (David G. Benner, Surrender to Love)
Discussion Questions
Which dimension of grace do you struggle the most to accept—God’s overabundant generosity, His pursuit of you even in your worst moments, or the fact that you don’t have to earn His love? Why do you think that is?
Paul was radically changed by grace, yet many of us feel like God’s love hasn’t truly transformed us. What fears, beliefs, or habits might be holding you back from fully experiencing the freedom of grace?
Think about a time when you felt unworthy of love—either from God or from others. How did you respond? What would it look like to receive grace in that moment instead of resisting it?
